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Listen to Philip Pullman: La Belle Sauvage

In this exclusive podcast of his appearance at London Literature Festival, Philip Pullman discusses his latest work, La Belle Sauvage, and the writing process behind his return to the realm of His Dark Materials.

To launch his highly anticipated new novel La Belle Sauvage, Philip Pullman joined BBC broadcaster Cerys Matthews on stage in the Royal Festival Hall to explain why he had come back to the much-loved heroine Lyra Belacqua, 22 years on from her first appearance in the trilogy, His Dark Materials.

In this exclusive recording, the author reflects on his writing process, and why the struggle for freedom of expression against despotic rulers that has been at the heart of his books, is more pressing now than ever.

When you write, you are a despot, you’re a dictator. You have absolute power over life and death.

Philip Pullman, speaking at London Literature Festival

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Philip Pullman was appearing at Southbank Centre as part of the 2017 London Literature Festival.